Things to do in Cork with kids

Enjoy a night at the dogs in Curraheen Park, Cork. Greyhound racing is guaranteed to get your heart racing. View the racing from the stands, or really soak up the excitement by going down to the rails for a more up-close-view. You must not forget to have a “flutter on the tote”, bet on the winning dog and you could be celebrating a windfall! A night at the dogs in Curraheen Park will offer you an unforgettable experience.

Whale and dolphin watching in west Cork. Hop on board the RV Voyager for a chance to see Minke Whales, Fin Whales, common dolphins, Harbour Porpoises and if you’re a really lucky person, you may even see a Humpback Whale, Blue Shark, or a Basking Shark

Fota Wildlife Park has been listed as one of Ireland’s Top Ten visitor attractions and is the most popular tourist destination in Cork, so a visit to the park is a must. The park is home to nearly 30 mammal and 50 bird species. Some of the animals roam freely with the visitors, such as the ring-tailed lemurs and squirrel monkeys, while larger animals, including the giraffe and bison, live in paddocks with unobtrusive barriers to allow viewing the animals in a more natural environment. Watch the world's fastest animals sprint for their food at Ireland's only Cheetah Run, and see indigenous creatures - such as bats, birds and rabbits - in their natural habitat. A Tour Train, restaurant, playgrounds, gift shop and Giant Giraffe Slide complete the family fun day out

Blackrock Castle Observatory is a fun and exciting location to learn about the Universe. Take your family on an adventure around the Blackrock Castle to see the Space Age Technology in the Observatory, open to the public seven days a week. The observatory has won the ‘Award for Outstanding Achievement’ from TEA, the world association for themed attractions.

Visit the Cobh heritage centre and learn about some of the hardest times in Irish History. From 1848 - 1950 over 6 million adults and children emigrated from Ireland due to famine in Ireland- over 2.5 million departed from Cobh, making it the single most important port of emigration. The Cobh heritage centre documents the lives of the emigrants. Cobh was also the last port of call for the Titanic and there is much Titanic memorabilia to be seen in the area; in particular “The Titanic Experience” is a centre in which story of Titanic is told using innovative audio visual technology bringing characters to life through cinematic shows, scene sets, holographic imagery and touch screen technology.

Charles Fort in Kinsale is a well preserved 17th Century star-shaped fort. The fort is perhaps the best-known historical attraction in Kinsale. Charles Fort has two large bastions overlooking the estuary, and three facing inland. Within its walls were all the barracks and ancillary facilities to support the fort’s garrisons.

Leahy's Open Farm is a great day out for all the family, with a huge selection of animals as well as playgrounds, go-karting, boat rides, leprechauns cave and more.

There are plenty of other exciting activities around the cork area to be enjoyed, such as spas, swimming pool, go-karting, bowling, ice skating and many entertainment centers, indoor and outdoor play areas and adventure centers, galleries and museums.

Street festivals, live music and artistic performances are wide spread in the cork region; the abundance on offer means there is something to suits any taste!